Vehicle-tire.



Q A. STBI-NHAUSER.

VEHICLE TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1912.

Patehted Jan.7,1913.

I 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

VWITNE'SSES a v A. STEINHAUSER.

VEHICLE TIRE.

APPLIUATION IYILED MAR. 7, 1912.

Patefited Jan-7, 1913.

2 SHEBTSSHEBT 2.

ALFRED STEINHAUSER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE-TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 7, 1912.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

Serial No. 682,283.

Be it'known that I. i-hmnnn STEINIIAISl-IR. a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State ofPennsylvania. have invented anew and useful Vehicle-Tire, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle tires and more particularly to anelastic or cushion tire and has for an object to provide a resilientstructure adapted to carry a motor vehicle or the like, absorb anddistribute the shocks due to irregularities in the road and which isalso non-defiatable and punctureproof. A

It has for a further object to provide a tire in which the outer casingis substantially of the' same type as used in tires as at presentconstructed and embodying as an element a cushioning member which is soarranged and supported as to be out. of contact with the inner wall ofthe outer casing adjacent the clenchcr element, thereby directing thecompressive action to the telly and-eliminating wear and pinching of theouter casing.

It has for a further object to provide a novel form of cushioningelement which is designed to take up and distribute the strains due tocompression and concentrate the applied forces directly upon the fellyand its adjunct-s thus relieving the outer casing of a material part ofthe load.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as willbe hereinafter fully set forth. I

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theacconuianylng drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in. practice to glve satisi'actory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged d organized and that my invention is not limited tothe precisearrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shownand described.

Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a tire embodying" myinvention, mounted upon a folly and shown in one operative position.Fig. 2 represents a plan of a port-ion oft-he supporting ringfor thecushioning element, showing a oint closmg device.

Fig. 3 represents a section on line w-w'1 ig.

2. Fig. 1 represents a transverse section similar'to Fig. 1 but showingthe parts in another operative position. Fig. 5 represents a sideelevation of the supporting ring. Fig. (3 represents a detail showingone of the joints of the supporting ring. Fig. 7 represents a detail ofthe end of one of the ring sections.

Similar numerals of reference corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings. 1 designates the felly. preferably of wood,of a vehicle wheel used in connection with motor vehi les or the likeand to which is secured, in the-present instance. a rim member 2providedwith the customary clencher lip 3 and also having a dependingflange l adapted to seat against the side of a folly 1 and held in suchposition by means of a suitably shaped bolt head 5 0i: the fasteningbolt (3 which passes transversely through the telly 1 and through aclamping ring 7 and holds the parts in a l-' justed position by means ofthe nut S. The clamping ring 7 is likewise provided with a clencher lipi and also carries an inwardly disposed annular flange 10 which innormal position is seated in the cut away portion 11 of the-rim 2. v

The rim member 2 is fixedly secured to the felly 1 bymeans of screws 12or like fastening means which are disposed at suitable intervals aboutthe circumference thereof for the desired purpose and it will also benoted that apertures 13 are formed in the rim 2 at suitable spaceddistances and aline with openings 14 which areradially bored through thefelly 1 and serve as air indicate passages communicating with theinterior of the tire structure. In connection with the fastening devicesjust described, it will of course be understood that the rim member 2isof annular form and that. there are a plurality of the fastening bolts 6spaced apart and located at suitable points. A

15 designates a pair'of annular plates seated respectively on the rim 2and flange .10 of the ring 7 and serving the double to form a beveledface 19 adapted to cooperate with and move the annular wedge block 20 ofthe supporting ring 21.

The ring 21 is preferably formed in sections as shown in Fig. 5 and, inthe present instance, it is divided into three sections which for thepurpose of illustration, I have lettered A, B and C. By reference toFig. 5, it will be seen that the annililar block 20 is .cut away atsuitable intervals to form transverse openings 22 which not only reduceslthe weight of the ring 21 but also permits a greater degree offlexibility. The section A of the ring 21 joins the adjacentsection Bbymeans of the interlocking hooks 23 and 24 and as a further means ofaccurately fitting the sections together,-I preferably provideprojecting tongues 25 for engagcment with suitable openings or grooves26,.. whereby the joint is'strengthencd by this dowel construction. Theopposite end of the section A joins the, section 0, as here .shown, by asliding or expansion connection comprising the cap plate 27 which issecured by rivets 28, or like fastening devices, to the section A ofthering 21 and prefer ably projects a suitable distance beyond the endthereof to allow for the maximum expansion of the ring sections when inoperative position. The projecting end of this plate 27, as seen in Fig.2, extends over the section C of the ring 21 to which it is movablyattached by means of the bolts 29 and longitudinally disposed slots 30in the ring 5 member 21,section C. It will thus be apparout that as thering member 21 is expanded and the sections A and C are withdrawn fromcontacting position, the cap plate 27 will act as a shield or protectorto prevent the cushioning element 17 which is supported by this ring 21from being forced down into theopening betweenthe sections. The sectionsB and C are jointed together, in the present instance, by a double hookcon- 5 str'uction 31 and 32 whereby the sections may be readilyassembled or taken apart, as the case may be. i It will here be notedthat the cap plate 27 preferably conforms in shape to the configurationof the upper surface of the ring member 21 'and therefore attention isdirected to the preferred construction of this member. Referring to Fig.3, a transverse Section of this rin 21 is shown with the cap plate 27 inposition thereon and it will be seen-that the ring member 21 is providedwith laterally extending "upwardly curved side wings 33 which serve toseatthc legs of the cushioning element 17 the latter, as will be seenfrom Fig. 1, being radially split and having an inner inclosedClICLllIlfGItill tial space formed therein. Between the wings 33 thebody portion of the ring 21 is outwardly extended to forma-substantially' 5' V-shaped annular projection 36 which is pressedbetween the supporting ends of the legs 34 of the cushioning element 17and forms an abutment to maintain the cushioning element 17 correctlyseated upon the side wings v Referring now to the cushioning element 17,I have preferably formed this as a substantially T-shaped annular memberwhich is radially split for a portion of its thickness to form the legs34 and it will be noted that that portion of the legs which contact withthe sidewings 33 is reinforced, in the present instance, with a doublelayer of fabric 37, in order to withstand any wear which may take placeat this point.

38 designates apertures or passages transversely formdd in each of thelegs 34 and serving as a communication between the conduit and the spacebetween the cushioning element and the outer casing 16, so that the airwithin=the outer casing may freely circulate around and through thecushioning element and by way of the openlugs 22 find its way to thepassageways 14 through the felly 1.

Attention is directed to the fact that the. cushioning element is soshaped and arranged as to contact with the outer casing only at thepoints where necessary to transmit the pressures directly to thesupporting ring and thence to the felly 1 and it will be seen that bythis construction a greater portion of the interior of the outer casing10 is not; engaged 'by the inner element nor does it contact with any ofthe parts inclosed thereby and thus is free to act as a cushioningmeans- In connection with the unobstructed inner portion of the outercasing 16 it will be noted that the ring 21 is always maintained by itsoperating adjuncts out of contact with the outer casing and thereby doesnot cause wear or pinching of the said casing 16 adjacent the clencherlugs 3 and 9.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the fastening device which holds my noveltire'st'ructure to the felly in a position with a plurality of liners3t) bet-ween the clamping rings 7 and the felly 1, whereby adjustment ofthe parts is permitted since furthertightening action may readily bemade by removing one or more of the said liners until the final closedposition is reached, as shownin Fig. 4. These liners 39 are of courseplaced atsuitable points about the side of thefelly 1 and are seated inaperturesof an annular angle member 40, one side of which is preferablyseated in a groove 41- of the felly l in such a manner that the outerface thereof is flush with the side of the folly and is held in suchposition by means of 'screws 42 or like fastening devices.' This anglemember projects laterally from the felly 1 and forms a supportingbracket for the ring 7 and prevents the latter from' swinging away fromthe outer shoe and maintains it in normal operative posit-ion.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a complete unitaryht irestructure, simple in construction and designed in such a manner that itcannot collapsein case of puncture and which embodies all the resilientand shock absorbing advantages of the best type of pneumatic tire andwhich is furthermore calculated to relieve the wear and pressure on theouter shoe adjacent its attachment to the telly. It will furthermore benoted that the cushioning element embodied in my novel ,tire is somounted and connected to the telly as to direct all pressure and strainsdirectly to the felly and its adjuncts and in addition a substantialportion of the inclosed cushioning element is out of contact with theinner wall of the outer shoe, while its supporting ring 21 is in alloperative positions held out of contact with the outer shoe and thusacts to transmit the compressive forces directly to the telly. Attentionis also directed to the means for per mitting the circulation of coolingair through the tire, since the same has 'free access through thepassages 14 and openings 22 to' the interior of the outer casing and maythen circulate through the cushioning eleanents by way of the passages38.

Itv will now be' apparent that I have devised anovel and usefulconstruction of a vehicle tire which embodies the features of advantageenumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the abovedescription-and while I have, in the present instance, shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment thereof which has been found inpractice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to beunderstood that the same is susceptible of modification in variousparticulars Without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionor sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-:

1. In a vehicle tire, an outer annular shoe, an annular cushioningelement within said shoe having a divided inner circumference, atransversely divided ring located between said outer shoe and the innercircumference of said cushioning element, seats on said ring spacedapart and each adapted to support a divided portion of said cushioningelement, a wedge element carried by said ring, and means engaging saidwedge element to always maintain said ring out of contact with saidouter shoe.

2. In a vehicle tire, an outer annular shoe an annular cushioningelement within said shoe having a divided inner circumference, atransversely divided ring located between said-outer shoe and the innercircumference of said cushioning element, seats on said rin spaced apartand each adapted to support a divided portion of said cushioningelement, a wedge element carried by said ring, and clamping meansengaging said wedge member whereby said ring maintains sa1d cushioningelement normally under compression.

3. In a vehicle tire, an outer annular shoe, an annular cushioningelement within said shoe, a transversely divided ring located withinsaid outer shoe and extending between the same and said cushioningelement, a seat formed on each side of said ring for the portion of thecushioning element juxtaposed to said shoe, a wedge element carried bysaid ring and having a plurality of transverse openings therein, andmeans cooperating with said wedge element to always maintain said ringout of contact with said outer shoe.

4. In a vehicle tire, an outer annular shoe,

an annular cushioning element within said 4 shoe, a transversely dividedring extending between said'outer shoe and said cushioning element andforming a seat for the portion of the cushioning element juxtaposed tosaid shoe, a wedge element carried by said ring,-

a pair of oppositely disposed plates adapted to seat on a felly,

a flangeangularly car- .ried by each plate and adapted to engage saidwedge element, and clamping means to move one of said plates toward theother whereby said ring is always maintained out of contact with saidouter shoe.

ALFRED STEINHAUSER. \Vitnesses:

ROBERT M. BARR, C. D. MCVAY.

